Hop Chops
North Sound Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

imperial pint, on tap @ brewery

This IPA glowed a radiant pinkish-orange in the blazing January sun. It certainly looks wonderful. I much prefer their DIPA - the hop chops just has way too much of a cerealy malt undercurrent. The hop profile is bland and a tad sweet. It's highly drinkable with a slick oily finish, but its just not very good for the style.

Pours a handsome golden amber with a proper head. Mouthfeel is sudsy and light, with plenty of carbonation. Lovely fragrant, flowery, fruity nose.

The main event is the wealth of aromatic hops. Mellow malt with this golden, fruity slice of melon and resiny tang. It reminds me of the Yunan tea I like with a sweet, malty, pollen-like flavor with the underlying bitter sensation.

A moderate bitterness for the aftertaste, but quite drinkable. Another pleasant, warm Northwest IPA. San Diego brewers should taste this one before boiling up another barrel of bitter dregs. From the 32 oz growler filled at the brewery this afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cloudy orange amber with thin tan head and great lacing. Not much on the aroma except for some faint citrus. Bold hop bitterness up front with some nice malt sweetness that cuts through a bit. Really not a whole lot of clear hop taste, just the bitterness and acidity. Feel is nice and smooth, bordering on the creamy. It was fairly boring by the end of the glass since all that was left was just the hop lingering.

Second beer at Brouwer's, asked for whatever one of the best beers on the menu is. I always wonder if I'm getting a 'good one' when I ask this or if I''m getting the 'man we gotta get rid of this keg' beer. Regardless, I keep trying this tired old tactic.

Arrives looking suitably dressed for our outing, all IPAish dark yellow. The smell nearly knocks me over. Floral hops like you've never had shoved up your nose. Either this was brewed yesterday or this is one heckuva a frangrant brew. <tips hat>

North Sound Hop Chops brings the flowers, dumps them in your lap, scatters them about, then buries you in them. Holy floral hops! Tasting this brew is like rolling in a bed of lilacs, roses, & sundry flowers in the height of springtime. Floral hops fairly explode off the taste buds, making this a unique, very tasty experience. There is close to zero bitterness. Just flowers. And me skipping happily through them.

Excellent beer. Very different take on the IPA. Every other IPA I've tasted that went this floral had some unpleasant soapy undertones, & I kept waiting for them to arrive, but they never rang the doorbell. Very nice!

Served in straight pint glass. Poured a cloudy and hazy golden/orange/medium amber color with a very tall (almost 2 inches), bright white head that had a stunning level of retention and tons of lacing.

The aroma had a touch of a citrusy scent, but underneath was something I've never smelled in a beer before, ham. Yes, HAM, you know, pig meat. Weird. The meat flavor wasn't on the tongue, more of the grapefruit hop flavor typical of so many IPAs.

The body and drinkability were both typical for the style. This is a brand new brewery and they are still working out their recipes. from what I've heard this is the recipe they've finally landed on as their regular, year-round IPA, but, I'm certain, that this open to change. Not a bad beer and not a notable one either. Worth a shot if you see it.

Edit 1/16/11:

Just tried a fresh one from a fresh batch and the ham flavor is still there, not as strong as before, and perhaps if I didn't taste it before, I wouldn't have noticed it now. It's still a solid beer and worth trying if you see it.